SAN ANGELO — Here are our top five games to watch in the opening week of the high school football season in West Texas:
Wall at Mason
Wall Hawks in Tied Slugfest at Mason Punchers at Half
How could this not be our top game? Wall and Mason are both ranked No. 9 in the state — Wall in 3A Division II, Mason in 2A D-I — and both are coming off 11-win seasons. It was exciting for football fans when the two teams rekindled their rivalry in 2018, and the games have exceeded expectations. In four of the six meetings, the game has been decided by eight points or less. Mason has held its own with two close wins, including a 14-7 victory last year.
This year’s meeting will be a bit different as the Puncher Dome is missing its trademark roof over the home stands after it was damaged in a storm. Wall also has a new head coach in Craig Slaughter, a new quarterback in Landon York, and a new spread offense after years of the run-based flexbone. Mason returns most of its starters from last year, including its entire offensive line and 1,100-yard rusher Sutten Silerio, so the Punchers may have the advantage in this early matchup. However, Wall returns seven starters from a defense that allowed nine points per game last year. Led by defensive end Brylan White and linebacker Ethan Michalewicz, Wall’s defense will be a formidable test for Mason’s offense. All signs point to this being a low-scoring game, but anything could happen with this many talented athletes on the field.
The pick: Mason 17, Wall 14
Miles at Sonora
This is another great matchup between two of our area’s best teams, both of which qualified for the 7-on-7 state tournament over the summer. It’s also a showcase for two of the Concho Valley’s best offenses. Miles averaged 45 points per game last year, while Sonora averaged 42.
Miles enters the season ranked No. 16 in the state in Class 2A Division II after going 8-4 last year. The Bulldogs return eight starters on offense and nine on defense but, like Sonora, they’ll be breaking in a new QB. Liam Yancy has looked up to the job of replacing Hayven Book so far after leading Miles to the quarterfinals of the 7-on-7 state tournament. He has a stable of playmakers around him, including wide receiver Cooper Ellison (66 catches, 1,091 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns), and running backs Tevin Meade (964 rushing yards, 16 TDs) and Devin Medina (712 rushing yards, 4 TDs).
Sonora is coming off an 11-2 season last year, but the Broncos were left out of the preseason Top 25 state rankings, perhaps because of the graduation of several key players, including running back Edgar Deluna, who rushed for over 2,500 yards and also had 130 tackles and eight interceptions as a linebacker. Dylan Ford, an all-state defensive back last year, projects as the Broncos’ top running back. Sonora must also replace standout quarterback Jaime Buitron. The Broncos have senior Juan Castillo, who led the team to a 5-0 record in games he started last year, and sophomore Aaron Segura, who led Sonora to the 7-on-7 state tournament. Head coach Blake Weston said Castillo was the frontrunner heading into fall practices, but we’ll learn more Friday.
The pick: Sonora 35, Miles 34
Eldorado at Christoval
The Christoval Cougars at 2-a-Days (LIVE! Photo: James Bouligny)
These two rivals, separated by about 25 miles on US 277, have played nearly every year for the last quarter century. It’s been an entertaining rivalry through each team’s ups and downs, and they’ve split the last 20 meetings. Eldorado has taken the last two games, including last year’s 26-12 win. Eldorado is coming off a 5-5 season, while Christoval was 3-7 last year, but both are projected to finish in the top three of their district this fall.
The Eagles’ offense will have a different look this season after switching from the veer to the spread. The new offense will be directed by a sophomore quarterback, Jonnie Rae Adame. Eldorado is under new head coach William Robledo, who was promoted after 13 seasons as an Eagles’ assistant.
Christoval graduated only three players from last year’s team, and the Cougars return their entire offensive line, led by first-team all-district selection Kolter Fulk (5-11, 240). The Cougars also bring back their biggest playmaker on offense, first-team all-district running back Manuel Riojas, who had 859 yards and six TDs.
The pick: Eldorado 22, Christoval 20
Buena Vista at Irion County
The Irion County Hornets are 2023 District Champs. (LIVE! Photo)
This is a six-man matchup worthy of a playoff clash to start the year in Mertzon. Buena Vista enters the season ranked No. 10 in the state in 1A Division I, while Irion County is No. 19. Both won eight games last year with Buena Vista at 8-4 and Irion County at 8-3. The difference is Buena Vista has been a team on the rise, winning more games than the previous season every year since 2019. With five starters back on both sides of the ball, the Longhorns could be ready for their best season since the 2015 team made the state semifinals. Junior Caden Valdez was a first-team all-state safety last year, and junior Jackie Jurado was a second-team all-state running back.
For Irion County, the Hornets have posted five straight seasons of seven wins or more, and they reached the state semifinals just two years ago. After significant hits from graduation, and with a new head coach in Tell Rutledge, the Hornets have to overcome a lot of change. However, they return their starting running back and fullback with Colton Lawdermilk and Parker Posey. More importantly, Posey will anchor the defense after earning second-team all-state honors last year as a linebacker.
These two teams had a down-to-the-wire game last year with Buena Vista pulling off a 46-42 win. Expect another close game this year.
The pick: Buena Vista 48, Irion County 38
Zephyr at Veribest
Veribest was one of the state’s best six-man teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year. The Falcons went 8-2 but finished in third place behind Irion County and Robert Lee in district. Veribest returns three starters from that team, including a strong 1-2 punch in the backfield with senior Lane Howard, who had 840 rushing yards and nine TDs, and junior Bryce Martin, who had 684 yards and 20 TDs.
The Falcons will begin the season at home against Zephyr, which is ranked No. 17 in the state in 1A Division II. Veribest, a 1A D-I school, beat Zephyr 42-22 last year. Zephyr returns five starters on each side of the ball. Like Veribest, the Bulldogs went 8-2 in the regular season, but they earned a playoff spot and lost in the first round.
The pick: Veribest 40, Zephyr 28
Other Week 1 Games
Abilene High at San Angelo Central
San Angelo Lake View at Fort Stockton
Abilene Wylie at Brownwood
San Angelo TLCA at Tahoka
Grape Creek at San Saba
San Antonio YMLA at Brady
McCamey at Ozona
Reagan County vs. Olney (at Colorado City on Thursday)
Ballinger at Merkel
Coleman at Eastland
Odessa Compass at Sterling City
Winters vs. Frost (at Hamilton on Thursday)
Junction at Goldthwaite
Garden City vs. Nazareth (at Jayton on Saturday)
Eden at Paint Rock
Loraine at Robert Lee
Water Valley at Grandfalls
Menard at Blanket
Bronte at Santa Anna (on Thursday)
Aspermont at Blackwell
Leakey Big Springs at Richland Springs
Rochelle at Medina
Panther Creek at Priddy
Lohn at Olfen
Check out more of our season preview coverage here:
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